Capturing how age-friendly communities foster positive health social participation and health equity: a study protocol of key components and processes that promote population health in aging Canadians

摘要

BackgroundTo address the challenges of the global aging population, the World Health Organization promoted age-friendly communities as a way to foster the development of active aging community initiatives. Accordingly, key components (i.e., policies, services and structures related to the communities’ physical and social environments) should be designed to be age-friendly and help all aging adults to live safely, enjoy good health and stay involved in their communities. Although age-friendly communities are believed to be a promising way to help aging Canadians lead healthy and active lives, little is known about which key components best foster positive health, social participation and health equity, and their underlying mechanisms.This study aims to better understand which and how key components of age-friendly communities best foster positive health, social participation and health equity in aging Canadians. Specifically, the research objectives are to: class="enumerated" style="list-style-type:decimal">Describe and compare age-friendly key components of communities across CanadaIdentify key components best associated with positive health, social participation and health equity of aging adultsExplore how these key components foster positive health, social participation and health equity